Adam HOWDER

Father: Christian HOWDER
Mother: Mary HOUSTATER

Family 1: Adeline HARWOOD

(1) Source: United States Census, 1850-1880.

  1. Edwin HOWDER
                                              __
                     ________________________|
                    |                        |__
 _Christian HOWDER _|
|                   |                         __
|                   |________________________|
|                                            |__
|
|--Adam HOWDER
|
|                                             __
|                    _Adam HOUFSTATER _______|
|                   |                        |__
|_Mary HOUSTATER ___|
                    |                         __
                    |_Elizabeth Katherine //_|
                                             |__

Notes

Updated June 23, 2026. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) 1830 United States Census for New York, Niagara Co., Cambria.

- Name: Adam HOWDER
- Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
- Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
- Free White Persons - Under 20: 1
- Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 1
- Total Free White Persons: 2
- Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 2

(2) Application for probate of the last will and testament of Christian Howder, Niagara Co., NY, May 28, 1832.

- Resident of Niagara County, NY in 1832.

(3) Michigan, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index via Ancestry.com

- Name: ADAM HOWDER
- State: Michigan
- County: Hillsdale County
- Township: Petitioner
- Year: 1834
- Database: MI Early Census Index

(4) U.S., General Land Office Records via Ancestry.com

"Certificant No. 7027. The United States of America, To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas Adam HOUDER of Lenawee County, Michigan has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Monroe whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Adam HOUDER according to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled 'An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands' for the West half of the North West quadrant of section twenty nine in Township seven, South, of Range two, West, in the District of lands subject to sale at Monroe Michigan, containing eighty acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Adam HOUDER. Now Know Ye, That the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said Adam HOUDER and to her heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appearances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Adam HOUDER and to her heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof, I, Martin Van BUREN, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and of the independence of the United States the sixty first. By the President: Martin Van BUREN, By A Van BUREN, Sec'y, Hudson M. GARLAND Recorder of the General Land Office."

NOTE: Adeline HOUDER got an adjacent parcel on the same day

(5) 1840 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., Fayette.

- Name: Adam HOWDER
- Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
- Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
- Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 10
- Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 2
- Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
- Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
- Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 3
- Persons Employed in Commerce: 2
- Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 4
- Persons Employed in Learned Professional Engineers: 3
- Free White Persons - Under 20: 4
- Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 15
- Total Free White Persons: 19
- Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 19

(6) Nomination via Newspapers.com: The Michigan Argus; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Wednesday, September 16, 1846; Page 2.

"DEMOCRATIC NOMINATIONS... Hillsdale county... for Sheriff, Adam HOWDER..."

(7) Advertisement via Newspapers.com: Hillsdale Whig Standard; Hillsdale, Michigan; Tuesday, June 5, 1849.

"HILLSDALE HOUSE. The subscriber has again become the proprietor of the above Hotel, located in the village of Hillsdale, Michigan; where he will be found, happy to see his old friends and patrons, and able to supply them with all the comforts which the country affords. With ordinary prosperity, he flatters himself that he will be able to make his connexion with the ‘Hillsdale House,’ a permanent one. To persons unacquainted with the subscriber and the ‘Hillsdale House,’ he will say: that the House is not only the largest, but located in the most eligible and pleasant part of the said village, but a short distance from the Rail Road Depot; and if they will give him a call, he will do all in his power to render their stay with him comfortable and agreeable. ADAM HOWDER. Hillsdale, March 5th, 1849"

(8) 1850 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., the Village of Hillsdale: Household 83; December 18, 1850.

Adam HOWDER is head of household, married to Adeline [HARWOOD] HOWDER. He is 43 years old, born in New York, and a hotel keeper with real estate valued at $3,000. Adeline's sister Salina HARWOOD is a resident, as is Adam's nephew Christopher J. DICKINSON, along with about 20 other hotel lodgers.

(9) 1860 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., Cambria Twp. (Sylvanus Post Office): Page 213; August 10, 1860.

Adam HOWDER is head of household, married to Adeline [HARWOOD] HOWDER. He is 53 years old, born in New York, and is a farmer with real estate valued at $2,500 and personal estate valued at $380. Adeline's sister Salina HARWOOD is also a resident.

(10) U.S., IRS Tax Assessment Lists via Ancestry.com

- Years: 1862, 1864, 1865
- Name: HOWDER, Adam
- Residence: Reading
- Article or Occupation: Hotel Keeper; Retail Dealer in Liquor

(11) Michigan Business Directory, 1863 via Ancestry.com

- Hillsdale, page 340: "The first settler was Adam HOWDER, who erected a log house in 1837, on site of present fair ground. C. W. FERRIS, J. P. COOK and Henry WALDRON came in the same year, and built in the immediate vicinity of Mr. HOWDER."
- Reading, page 454: "HOWDER Adam, hotel."

(12) 1870 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., Reading Twp. (Reading Post Office): page 41; dwelling 366; family 377; July 20, 1870.

Adam HOWDER is head of household, married to Adeline [HARWOOD] HOWDER. He is 63 years old, born in New York, and is a hotel keeper with real estate valued at $3,600 and personal estate valued at $2,300. He is eligible to vote. Adeline's sister Selina is also a resident, as are various waiters, servants and other hotel staff.

(13) Obituary via Newspapers.com: Jackson Daily Citizen; Jackson, Michigan; Tuesday, April 11, 1871; Page 2.

"Adam HOWDER, an old resident, died at Reading a few days since, aged 63. He built the first hotel in Hillsdale, about 1838, located on what is now the county fair grounds. In 1841, he built Hillsdale House. He was twice elected Sheriff, and at the time of his death was proprietor of the Howder House in Reading."

(14) Find a Grave

- Name: Adam HOWDER
- Birth: 16 Dec 1807; Lockport, Niagara County, New York, USA
- Death: 29 Mar 1871 (aged 63); Reading, Hillsdale County, Michigan, USA
- Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery; Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan, USA
- Memorial ID: 61037041

(15) Michigan State Library, Pioneer Record for Christopher John Dickerson, submitted by Vivian Lyon Moore, Oct. 19, 1949.

Came to Hillsdale in 1835; tavern keeper; second settler in Hillsdale; buried Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan (date of birth provided on his tombstone).

(16) Sketches of Old Hillsdale, Historical and Genealogical, Volume II. Vivian Lyon Moore, for the Daughters of the American Revolution library (undated, probably 1940's), pages 85-87.

- Came from Lockport, New York to Hillsdale, Michigan to look after the interests of Greenman, King, and Budlong [land speculators of the Hillsdale Company]
- 1835: Built log house on what became Hillsdale Fair Grounds; first tavern keeper in town
- 1838: New structure "very spacious" 28X40 ft & two stories tall with ballroom
- 1841: Town growing in other direction so built new tavern called "Hillsdale House" which became very well known
- 1845 and 1847: Served as sheriff; yet another tavern called "Howder House" in Reading
- 1871: Died Mar. 29, 1871 and buried with wife and wife's sister in Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale.

(17) There is a "Howder Street" in Hillsdale, Michigan named after him.

(18) Mathews family records, November 29, 2001.

- Adam HOWDER is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale, Hillsdale Co., Michigan (section 15, row 9).